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WMC/EAB/MT/642
Secretary's
27th February, 1937.
Mr. W Schevenels,
International Federation of Trade Unions,
9 Avenue D'orsay,
PARIS, VIIe.
Dear Comrade Schevenels,
IFTU AND LSI CONFERENCE AND DEMONSTRATION RE SPAIN.
With reference to our telephone conversation with you this morning, I desire to confirm the following points.
(1) Demonstration.
It is to be clearly understood by all concerned that the Demonstration at Kingsway Hall, which is to take place on Wednesday, 10th March, is solely for the purpose of getting support for the International Solidarity Fund, and is not a meeting at which policy questions can be dealt with.
I have had consultations with our Foreign Office and Home Office, and so far as they are concerned they are ready to do everything to facilitate our meetings. However, in the House of Commons on the 11th February last, the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, stated: "In accordance with the decision of His Majesty's Government to refrain from intervention in the Spanish struggle immigration officers have been instructed to keep a watch on the arrival of foreign visitors whose purpose in coming here is to further the interests of and engage in propaganda on behalf of either side, and if satisfied that such is the purpose of their visit to refuse facilities", and in view of this statement, the Home Office officials have made it very clear that it would not be possible for them to allow any person, admitted to this country to take part in the Conference, to indulge in propaganda meetings.
I have had to give the Home Office officials an assurance that the Demonstration will be solely for the purpose of getting support for the International Solidarity Fund and that persons attending the Conference will not take part in any other meetings or propaganda meetings.
We have evidence of the need of caution in this matter as it is learned that a Conference is being called by another Organisation for the Saturday following our Conference, and they are proposing to invite Spanish and other continental speakers to participate. The Home Office

WMC/EAB/MT/642
Secretary's
27th February, 1937.
Mr. W Schevenels,
International Federation of Trade Unions,
9 Avenue D'orsay,
PARIS, VIIe.
Dear Comrade Schevenels,
IFTU AND LSI CONFERENCE AND DEMONSTRATION RE SPAIN.
With reference to our telephone conversation with you this morning, I desire to confirm the following points.
(1) Demonstration.
It is to be clearly understood by all concerned that the Demonstration at Kingsway Hall, which is to take place on Wednesday, 10th March, is solely for the purpose of getting support for the International Solidarity Fund, and is not a meeting at which policy questions can be dealt with.
I have had consultations with our Foreign Office and Home Office, and so far as they are concerned they are ready to do everything to facilitate our meetings. However, in the House of Commons on the 11th February last, the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, stated: "In accordance with the decision of His Majesty's Government to refrain from intervention in the Spanish struggle immigration officers have been instructed to keep a watch on the arrival of foreign visitors whose purpose in coming here is to further the interests of and engage in propaganda on behalf of either side, and if satisfied that such is the purpose of their visit to refuse facilities", and in view of this statement, the Home Office officials have made it very clear that it would not be possible for them to allow any person, admitted to this country to take part in the Conference, to indulge in propaganda meetings.
I have had to give the Home Office officials an assurance that the Demonstration will be solely for the purpose of getting support for the International Solidarity Fund and that persons attending the Conference will not take part in any other meetings or propaganda meetings.
We have evidence of the need of caution in this matter as it is learned that a Conference is being called by another Organisation for the Saturday following our Conference, and they are proposing to invite Spanish and other continental speakers to participate. The Home Office